How does Kiawah, Breakers and Sea Island compare to Homestead?

[Anonymous]

We went to Homestead recently expecting it to be this grand hotel. From pictures, it looked amazing. When we got there, I admit I was disappointed. This hotel was recommended by so many online as well as in real life. It was THE place to drive to.

Now we are considering a trip to Kiawah, Sea Island or the Breakers. I can't help but get a similar feel from the website. The hotels look grand but dated. I'm wondering if I will once again be disappointed. I like nice spas but also want kid activities.

[Anonymous]

Many of the condos/townhomes on Kiawah are dated but the resort itself (The Sanctuary) is not dated. Haven't been to the other two.

But these are established "old money" type places and have been around a long time. Its impossible for them to be 100% remodeled all of the time. And old money people don't care as much about stuff like that anyway.

[Anonymous]

What are you looking for OP?

[Anonymous]

Love the Cloister at Sea Island, especially the Beach Club rooms. We went to Sea Island every summer growing up in the 60s, but it has modernized very well, and I love taking my kids and their kids there today. The Homestead has not modernized well; it still today resembles what Sea Island was like in the 60s!

We also find the Sanctuary in Kiawah to be a fabulous, modern hotel. It is much newer than the others, having opened in 2004.

[Anonymous]

The Cloister in Sea Island was totally rebuilt around 2004.

[Anonymous]

Just about anyplace is better than the Homestead. It’s filled with people wearing name tags and the whole feeling is tired.

[Anonymous]

The Breakers has very small rooms and inflated prices. It's an old hotel.

[Anonymous]

Enjoyed the Greenbrier more than the Homestead. Greenbrier has more to do, more restaurants, the interesting bunker tour. If you are not a fan of "historic," you might not like it there either though.

[Anonymous]

The sanctuary is not the least bit dated.
It’s fabulous.
And I’m picky.

[Anonymous]

Inn at Bluffton sounds like it would fit the bill.

[Anonymous]

I personally think the Breakers is dated, but I’m not into old lady type furnishings.

[Anonymous]

You can't really compare the Homestead to the Sanctuary. The gulf if too wide.

[Anonymous]

As a regular vacationer at all these places, no, the Homestead is not at all similar. There's a reason the rooms at the Homestead start at <$200 compared to $300++ for Sanctuary, Cloisters, Breakers. The Homestead is typical four-star Omni property. The other three are true luxury five-star properties.

Yes, the Breakers is also a historic, older building, but not nearly as antique as the original part of the Homestead. It's gone through some serious renovations over the years and the rooms are up to modern standards. the Cloister and the Sanctuary are both actually new buildings (about 15 years old).

All have great facilities and activities - more broad choices at Kiawah and Sea Island, but the cabanas at the Breakers pool are hard to beat for families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a regular vacationer at all these places, no, the Homestead is not at all similar. There's a reason the rooms at the Homestead start at <$200 compared to $300++ for Sanctuary, Cloisters, Breakers. The Homestead is typical four-star Omni property. The other three are true luxury five-star properties.

Yes, the Breakers is also a historic, older building, but not nearly as antique as the original part of the Homestead. It's gone through some serious renovations over the years and the rooms are up to modern standards. the Cloister and the Sanctuary are both actually new buildings (about 15 years old).

All have great facilities and activities - more broad choices at Kiawah and Sea Island, but the cabanas at the Breakers pool are hard to beat for families.

This is a good summary. OP, I too was pretty disappointed with Homestead. Having been to the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Greenbrier, Hotel del Coranado, etc., I thought it would be like those, and it most definitely is not.

[Anonymous]

The breakers is far and away a different class than the Homestead. You won’t be disappointed.